In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Sania Mirza said that she shouldn’t have announced her retirement “so soon” because “everybody got really emotional”. The Indian tennis ace said that while she plans to end her glittering tennis career at the end of the season, she is in it “100 per cent” until she finishes. Earlier this month, Sania Mirza had announced her intention to retire from the sport after the current season. The former doubles number one feels has won six Grand Slam titles so far and remains the biggest draw in tennis from the country.”I think it (her retirement announcement) came as a shock to everyone. And I later said that honestly should not have announced it so soon, should have come closer to the year end because everybody got really emotional,” Sania Mirza told NDTV.”For me, tennis will always be part of my life. I’m so grateful for the memories and the achievements I have been able to have. Yes, I do plan to end at the end of the year but I’m in it 100 per cent until I finish and it’s a long year ahead.”PromotedSania had made announcement after she along with her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok suffered an opening-round loss in the women’s doubles event at the Australian Open. The Australian Open was where Sania had won her first Grand Slam title — a mixed doubles triumph in 2009.”It (retirement) had been on my mind for a few months. Australia has always been special to me. I won my first Grand Slam there. It was just a coincidence that it happened there. It was not planned,” said the Indian tennis star.Topics mentioned in this article